{"id":29327,"date":"2018-02-12T17:00:33","date_gmt":"2018-02-12T17:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/02\/12\/pentagon-unveils-686-billion-military-budget-for-2019\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:24:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:24:21","slug":"pentagon-unveils-686-billion-military-budget-for-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/breaking-news\/2018\/02\/12\/pentagon-unveils-686-billion-military-budget-for-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Pentagon unveils $686 billion military budget for FY19"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s fiscal 2019 budget is requesting $686.1 billion in military funding, with a focus on great power competition with Russia and China, the Pentagon announced Monday morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The request includes $617 billion in base budget funding and $69 billion in cap-exempt wartime funds, part of the administration\u2019s expected $716 billion national security request (which includes Department of Energy nuclear programs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters Sunday the new two-year budget agreement would allow the military to be reshaped \u201cback to a position of primacy<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here for more on President Trump\u2019s FY19 budget!<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The administration\u2019s new national security strategy is prioritizing strategic competition with near-peer adversaries over counterterrorism. With the respite from budget instability, the Pentagon is rebuilding \u201cto address the changing forms of warfare and to bring the current capabilities up,\u201d Mattis said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress raised budget caps for defense by $165 billion through fiscal 2019 under a bipartisan budget agreement<\/a> Congress approved last week. That sets a clear path, versus the spending fights and budget instability that have dominated Congress for the past few years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump\u2019s second budget plan contains a manpower increase of 25,900. It also calls for the purchase of 10 new naval ships in fiscal 2019, and would enable the Air Force to grow from 55 combat squadrons to 58 over the next five years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The budget plan also calls for more than $1 trillion in defense spending over the Obama administration\u2019s 10-year plan, arguing that \u201cfailure to provide adequate funding to meet these defense objectives would embolden America\u2019s enemies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seeking savings, the budget continues a congressionally mandated 25 percent headquarters reduction, despite the the split of the office of the chief weapons buyer into two new offices. It skips the Pentagon\u2019s customary request for base closures.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\t